An emotional ceremony was held to deliver the benefit.

With the presence of the Academic Vice Chancellor, Dr. Jorge Catalán Ahumada, the Corporate Banking executive of Banco Santander, Aída Palacio, School directors, academics, beneficiary students and special guests, the delivery of certificates took place at the University of La Serena that certify the delivery of the “Santander Practical Scholarship”.

At the ceremony, the students received gifts from the banking institution and the ULS, as recognition. In addition, the university authority highlighted the commitment that the university has with the students and the permanent cooperative bond with the private institution that grants the scholarships.

Five students received this benefit, who belong to the careers of Commercial Engineering, Journalism, Pedagogy in Spanish and Philosophy, and Auditing.

This scholarship includes the delivery of USD $1.000 in a period of 520 hours. of practical work, which is why it provides a solution to those students who must carry out internships in companies where their situation is not remunerated.

This is the second year that the scholarship has been awarded to students from the University of La Serena. In this regard, the person in charge of representing the banking entity, executive Aída Palacio, pointed out that Banco Santander is committed to education and that is why their social responsibility is to give incentives to students to, in this way, be a contribution to the training of new professionals, highlighting their effort and desire to improve, along with promoting education in a comprehensive manner.

In this scholarship granting process, the Graduate Monitoring Office was the coordinator to make the call for applications from the Academic Vice-Rector's Office, gathering the necessary documentation and, through a commission, choosing the favored ones.

During the ceremony, a former scholarship recipient and current journalist with a degree from the ULS, Ricardo Muñoz, who during 2017 received the monetary incentive, was also present and addressed the guests, highlighting that “this aid is essential for those of us who cannot qualify for a paid internship. Many times 'poor students', as was the case in my case, thanks to this contribution, we can close a circle of effort and begin a new stage; In my case, I managed to do my internship, I managed to get my degree, and without the contribution and help of the bank and the ULS I would not have been able to do it, since I was my own support during my university life. I can only say that as long as we want it, we can do it, the effort is always rewarded.”

Source: DEIP